OUTREACH EVERYONE OUTREACH is for EVERYONE General Conference EVANGELISM MANUAL Women’s Ministries EVANGELISM MANUAL Training Program

OUTREACH IS FOR EVERYONE Chapter 3. Chapter 3. Preparing the Community General Conference Women’s Ministries Department

“The Lord has a work for women as well as for men. They may take their places in His work at this crisis, and He will work through them. If they are imbued with a sense of their duty, and labor under the influence of the Holy Spirit, they will have just the self-possession required for this time.

“The Saviour will reflect upon these self-sacrificing women the light of His countenance, and will give them a power that exceeds that of men. They can do in families a work that men cannot do, a work that reaches the inner life. They can come close to the hearts of those whom men cannot reach. Their labor is needed.” Review and Herald, Aug. 26, 1902.

One of the most important aspects of a successful evangelistic program is proper groundwork. One of the most important aspects of a successful evangelistic program is proper groundwork. No matter how well you conduct a campaign, it will not be successful if good preparation in the community has not been made first.

Not all Women’s Ministries meetings have to be evangelistic meetings, but all meetings should have an evangelistic purpose. In other words, you can, and should, plan a wide variety of programs that appeal to various groups of women. Not all Women’s Ministries meetings have to be evangelistic meetings, but all meetings should have an evangelistic purpose. In other words, you can, and should, plan a wide variety of programs that appeal to various groups of women.

In Bible study groups or other informal meetings, allow women an opportunity to share and visit. Personal relationships are very important to most women. This is an ideal time for the women of the church to establish lasting friendships with women who are not church members.

In deciding on programs that will be of interest to former members and women in the community, think of the needs of women in your area. You may want to consider the list the General Conference Women’s Ministries Department has identified as the six critical needs women face world wide.

These concerns are: illiteracy health risks poverty abuse work load lack of training/mentoring

Never Too Late to Learn” is a program developed by the Women’s Ministries (WM) Department in the Southern Asia Division (India). The first adult literacy program, “Never Too Late to Learn,” was organized in ten centers in the Northeastern part of India in Never Too Late to Learn” is a program developed by the Women’s Ministries (WM) Department in the Southern Asia Division (India). The first adult literacy program, “Never Too Late to Learn,” was organized in ten centers in the Northeastern part of India in 2001.

Other programs addressing these challenge issues would include programs on abuse, financial management, stress control, time management, communication, and more. (General Conference Women’s Ministries leadership materials and handbooks give many ideas for such programs.

Survey of Community Needs/Demographics An excellent way to decide which programs suit the needs of your community is to do surveys and research. Who lives in your community? What do they feel their needs are? What groups make up your community?

Demographics. You can find out what the community is like (population, religious preferences, income, etc.) by learning the demographics of an area. Survey Community Needs. How do you find out the needs in your community?

After you collect enough information, analyze it and honestly consider the potential resources in your church and community. Then decide what programs and ministries you can realistically implement in the community and church. After you collect enough information, analyze it and honestly consider the potential resources in your church and community. Then decide what programs and ministries you can realistically implement in the community and church.

Community Programs and Ministries There are many ways to meet the needs of the people in our community. The list would be as varied as the people in our community and the people available to lead seminars and programs. Some of the common outreach programs we may think of include:

Seminars could cover topics such as: Health Aging Mental health Depression and suicide Grief recovery Divorce support Growing up in a family with alcoholism, abuse or other trauma Self-esteem

Family matter seminars Self-help seminars Many other ministries might be developed to address community needs, depending on the trained personnel and resources available.

We need to be continually alert to the changes in our communities. We have to be creative, revising our programs to address important community needs. We need to be continually alert to the changes in our communities. We have to be creative, revising our programs to address important community needs.

Guiding principles First, As we hold seminars and meet people’s need, key principles will help us be more effective. First, since we are ambassadors for Christ, we must create within each event or ministry an atmosphere of loving concern for people. People are more important than programs or ministries.

Second, Second, to accomplish this, bathe the seminar or ministry in prayer. Pray that the Holy Spirit will use you and guide you. Pray for those you will minister to. And take every opportunity to pray with the participants.

Build friendships all along the way. We must make friends with people long before they come into the church, and then continue those friendships, whether they join the church or not. Be intentional in helping your members make friends. Train them ahead of time, and give them opportunities during the ministries and programs to develop friendships.

Follow up Follow up It is vital that you intentionally follow up seminars and ministry with small groups, programs, events at your church, and other seminars and ministries. We would be more effective in evangelism if we made sure that all our ministries and programs were followed up in some way.

Planning a Community Program Planning a program that builds community interest is much like the evangelistic meetings themselves. It takes planning, thought, prayer, committees and commitment.

Here are the necessary planning activities Here are the necessary planning activities Gather a planning committee Examine available information about the needs in the community Define a target group

Develop an action plan List the personnel needed for the project. Consider all tasks. Recruit volunteers. Contact them personally. Set up the committees. Recruit people to pray for every aspect of your ministry. Set up a phone number to handle registrations and answer questions.

Decide on meeting facilities. Plan and implement advertising. Saturate the area with all available and affordable types of media Arrange for audio visual equipment. Develop and arrange for the production of handouts, etc.

Arrange lodging for out-of-town participants. Recruit skilled personal ministry specialists. Registration table: staffed with organized, pleasant volunteers, and materials to distribute. Evaluate. This is essential. Plan for follow up events.

Obtaining Names One of the most valuable resources you can have for successful evangelism is names— names of people who can be invited, people who know about the church, people who have attended programs in the past.

Sources of names before event begins Names from church members Former members Media names from radio and television programs Pastor’s Bible Class

Sources of names during meetings Advertising survey cards Sermon request cards Attendance cards in the Bibles Response cards Registration sheets

There is a suggested form (modify to suit your needs) that you can use to obtain names of relatives and friends from the church members. Such lists should be worked on some time before any type of evangelistic program is begun. (See Appendix D.)